STAN Collymore has told Gabby Agbonlahor to stay with Villa - because Martin O'Neill is the man who can turn him into a Premier League superstar.

STAN Collymore has told Gabby Agbonlahor to stay with Villa - because Martin O'Neill is the man who can turn him into a Premier League superstar.

The Midlands-born Holte hero of a decade ago today gave his verdict on the 2008 version and insisted Agbonlahor need look no further than Villa Park if he wants to make it big in the top flight and build an England career at the same time.

Agbonlahor has attracted plenty of attention over the last 18 months, which have seen him go from being a virtual unknown outside of Villa Park to being called up for Fabio Capello's first England squad.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been linked with a possible move for the 21-year-old while Sir Alex Ferguson is known to be a high-profile admirer of Agbonlahor's pace and ability.

But Collymore says the Erdington-born flier should focus on playing for Villa. The £7million, 1997 record signing was seen by many as a wasted talent.

Yet Collymore believes a successful future for Agbonlahor is assured.

And while he is not the finished article yet, the former Villa star says that when he is, he will be able to take his place among the Premier League's finest.

But Stan the Man inisists O'Neill is the perfect mentor.

"You really only need to move if there's turmoil behind the scenes at your club and where the manager might be gone in six months," said Collymore, who was speaking at the launch of Grass Roots Football Live at the NEC.

"Martin's going to be there for the long haul and by the time Gabby is a regular presence in the Premier League at the age of 24 or 25, he'll have worked with Martin for four or five years.

"If I was Gabby, I'd stay put and wouldn't be lured by the odd little newspaper story that links him with Arsenal or Man United.

"I'd like to see him getting his goals under his belt at Villa, and then get his caps under his belt and see where it goes from there.

"He's got outrageous pace and his goalscoring record is decent.

"I'd still like to see him getting in around the box and developing his game, a la Michael Owen with his finishing.

"Pace gets you away from somebody, but you then need the coolness of Adebayor, van Nistelrooy or Ronaldo.

"That's where he needs to take the next step. Martin will take him aside and get him to look at the game. But he's in a fantastic position at 21."

Collymore also believes that an England career is waiting for Agbonlahor, even though he missed Capello's first game against Switzerland through injury. But he knows the Villa forward's form has to remain consistent.

"When I was in the England squad I was up against Shearer, Le Tissier, Wright, Sheringham, Ferdinand, Fowler, you had to earn your caps," said Collymore.

"Now, there aren't a lot of players getting 15 goals a season, never mind 25.

"If he can score goals towards the end of the season and impress the new manager, he could get a run in the team.

"The manager is picking his squads on form, simple as that. He won't pick players on reputation."

Collymore reckons O'Neill's team is probably the best at Villa since John Gregory first got his teeth into European football in the late 1990s.

And he says O'Neill has players who are not only among the best players in the country, but fans can relate to as well.

"This is the best they've been since I was there and I was playing for Villa in a strong UEFA Cup, stronger than it is now," said Collymore.